It’s been more than a year since my husband and I began working from home (with no end in sight). He and I, in general, don’t work well together (he’s on conference calls all day; I prefer to do my work while half-tuning in to the ).

Last year, my husband snagged the study as his remote office. Our 15-year-old son took over the den, and our 9-year-old chose his bedroom for distance learning. (For a large chunk of the day, unfortunately, that’s where I was, too, trying to get actual work done while overseeing his online learning.)

I miss my own work space. Which is why I found myself digging through our archives to find inspiring home offices. Below, our non-scientific assessment of what you need to create the perfect work-from-home setup, as illustrated by 19 home offices we love.

Abundant Natural Light

Above: Sliding doors to a deck and multiple French windows add up to ample natural light in Kathleen Whitaker’s Echo Park office studio. Her husband made the desk out of plywood that he cut to size and mounted on folding catering-table legs. Photograph by Laure Joliet, from .
аbout: Interior Michaela Scherrer’s home office features oversized windows and a custom warm white on the walls that she mixed herself. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista, from .

A Place for Everything

Above: A birch wood pegboard from allows for flexible storage in Julie and Josh’s home office. (See for an alternative.) Photograph by Matthew Williams, styling by Alexa Hotz, for Remodelista, from .
Above: Wall-mounted provides both open and closed storage options in this office designed by Ellen Hamilton. Photograph by Max Kim Bee, from .

Mood Boards

Above: Design legend Ilse Crawford’s temporary office in Copenhagen featured a mood board, of course, a necessity for creatives everywhere. Photograph by Casper Sejersen for the Apartment, from .
Above: Photographer Pia Ulin also utilizes a mood wall in her home office. Photograph by Pia Ulin, from .

Good Task Lighting

Above: A flea-market find illuminates the desk in designer Kirill Bergart’s study. See .
Above: Designer Gesa Hansen is a pro at mixing high and low. Here in her office, she paired a cork-topped table and stools from Ikea with the , a modern classic. Photograph by Nathalie Mohadjer, courtesy of , from .

 Art that Inspires

Above: In music producer Nick Gilpin’s home office, a wall painted Farrow & Ball’s provides the perfect backdrop for a black and white portrait. Photograph by Paul Massey, courtesy of Howe, from .
Above: Another Farrow & Ball color, a moody , was used in this office by Colombe Design. Photograph by Kasia Gatkowska, courtesy of Colombe Design, from .

Books, the More the Better

Above: Call me old-school, but I can’t imagine an office without books and other printed materials. We like the designer C.S. Valentin used in his home office and the way his books spill onto the floor even more. Photograph by Jonathan Hökklo, styling by Alexa Hotz, for Remodelista, from .
Above: The desk is flanked by rows of books in this Notting Hill townhouse study. Photograph by Rory Gardiner, styling by Emma Lynn Archer, from .

Something Old

Above: We prefer to get down to business in rooms that have some gravitas—and old things, in our opinion, confer gravitas. Here, a Napoleon III desk pairs beautifully with a Singer chair in designer Marianne Evennou’s chic office. Photograph courtesy of Marianne Evennou, from .
Above: An old-fashioned secretary desk and vintage chair contrast nicely with modern pieces. Photograph courtesy of Dinesen, from .

Natural Beauty

Above: A stand-alone studio in the backyard may just be the holy grail of home offices. This one is particularly nice because of its views of and access to the garden. Photograph by French + Tye, courtesy of MW Architects, from .
Above: Flowers and greenery animate the study, featuring a Josef Frank Secretaire, of John and Juli Baker’s weekend cottage. Photograph by Juli Baker, from .

Lounging Furniture

Above: A sofa or day bed isn’t essential to a home office, but it sure does come in handy when you need an afternoon recharge. Photograph courtesy of The Modern House, from .
Above: One of our favorite home offices for reflection and repose. Photograph by Jonathan Hökklo, styling by Alexa Hotz, from .

A Supportive Coworker

Above: It doesn’t hurt to have an office mate who always has your back. Photograph by  Photograph by and courtesy of Kate Sears, styling by Kate S. Jordan, from .

For more on home offices, see: